Not In Stock

$100 Face Bag of 200 90% Silver Franklin Half Dollars

The $100 Face Bag contains 200 coins of the 90% Silver Franklin Half Dollar released from 1948-1963. The Face Bag includes a rare collection of Silver Franklin Half Dollars that were part of the first generation of American coinage to pay homage to the country’s prestigious leaders.

The 1948 introduction of the Silver Franklin Half Dollar exhibited a significant change in design practices at the U.S. Mint as patriotic symbolism, once the norm for American coinage, was being replaced by historical figures that helped shape the nation. Moving forward, coins minted specifically for mass circulation would feature those who championed American causes. Benjamin Franklin’s industrial and political contributions as a printer, scientist, inventor, and diplomat provided the ideal qualifications to grace the new silver half dollar.

Design of the 90% Silver Franklin Half Dollar

The U.S. Mint’s chief sculptor / engraver at the time, John R. Sinnock, designed the new silver half dollar. The obverse features a profile of Franklin based on an 18th century bust by sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon. The reverse depicts Philadelphia’s famous Liberty Bell and is based on a sketch by John Frederick Lewis. Franklin and the Liberty Bell are each iconic symbols of the birth the United States.

The Silver Franklin Half Dollar was minted for only fifteen years in Philadelphia (no Mint mark), San Francisco (“S” Mint mark), and Denver (“D”). Each coin is composed of 90% silver and 10% copper (while half dollar coins minted after 1970 contain only 70% silver). Despite its popularity, Congress issued a new half dollar in 1963 to honor the martyred President John F. Kennedy – making the Silver Franklin Half Dollar a unique part of both American and U.S. Mint history.

The Silver Franklin Half Dollar’s limited availability due to its short production window along with the financial advantages of its high silver content make the $100 Face Bag (200 coins) of the 90% Silver Franklin Half Dollar both valuable and coveted additions to any collection.